Author: Hunanian Jack

Charqute: A story of “heart and altruism”

Hunanian Jack
 Talar Keoseyan Food, Diaspora, Culture 1

Charqute board for the 95th Oscars (Instagram)

The latest trend captivating food enthusiasts worldwide is the craft of charcuterie boards. Karreno Alexanyan, a former corporate banker turned food entrepreneur, is at the forefront of this trend. His story is not just about reinvention, but also heart and altruism.

Alexanyan, with a 14-year tenure in corporate banking, opted for a sabbatical year, during which he ventured into diverse culinary experiences while traveling across the world. His curiosity about global cuisine inspired him to work as a private chef, a venture cut short by the pandemic. However, an intriguing proposition from a friend to create a “grazing table in a box” led to the conception of Charqute, an ingenious fusion of “charcuterie” and “cute.”

Karreno Alexanyan

Charqute was poised for an October 2020 launch, yet plans were abruptly thwarted by the onset of the Artsakh War. Amid such dire circumstances, launching a business seemed inappropriate to Alexanyan. Therefore, he chose to support the war-affected families by crafting charcuterie boards and channeling all proceeds toward Armenian organizations and families.

Charqute was officially launched on December 1, 2020. Alexanyan strategically utilized social media, specifically Tik Tok and Instagram, where he has since amassed over 160,000 followers through his innovative videos. 

Alexanyan’s social media success has garnered the attention of celebrities. He has received a collaboration invitation from Netflix for the Emmy Awards, closely followed by a partnership with Paramount Pictures. His content, featuring products from local and chain markets such as Costco and Trader Joe’s, has even caught the attention of Barbara Cochran from Shark Tank. He has also collaborated with 99 Cents Only Stores and Amazon Fresh. 

Reflecting on his journey, Alexanyan said, “It’s a cycle. The money that comes in is reinvested in the business. I started engaging with schools and contributing to fundraisers. Charqute is not a business operating solely for profit, but aims to give back to society. Every day presents a new adventure.” Emphasizing the importance of authenticity, relationship-building and loving one’s work, he inspires others to remain genuine, enjoy the process and support those who bolster our community.

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Talar Keoseyan is a mother, educator and writer. Talar’s book called Mom and Dad, Why Do I Need to Know My Armenian Heritage? is available on Amazon. Tigran’s Song is available at Abril Bookstore. She has been an educator for 25 years and resides in Los Angeles, CA. She can be reached at


RFE/RL Armenian Service – 08/15/2023

Hunanian Jack 
                                        Tuesday, 
EU Border Monitoring Mission In Armenia Confirms Gunfire In Area Of One Of Its 
Patrols
Armenia -- Vehicles carrying EUMA members near the Armenian-Azerbaijani border 
(file photo).
The European Union’s border monitoring mission in Armenia on August 15 confirmed 
that there had been gunfire in the area of one of its patrols along the border 
with Azerbaijan.
“We confirm that an EU monitoring mission patrol was present at the shooting 
incident in our area of responsibility,” EU Mission in Armenia (EUMA) said on X, 
formerly known as Twitter. The post, which corrected a previous statement saying 
no EUMA patrol had been a target of shooting, also said no mission member had 
been hurt.
The statement came after Armenia said Azerbaijan’s military had opened fire on 
the observers monitoring the border between the two countries. Azerbaijan denied 
responsibility for the incident.
The Armenian Defense Ministry said the shooting took place as EU observers 
patrolled the village of Verin Shorzha, about 6 kilometers from the border. It 
also said there were no casualties.
Azerbaijan said the claims amounted to disinformation and that Baku had been 
told in advance of the patrols.
“The units of the Azerbaijani Army have been informed about the visits of the 
mission, so the incident reported by the Armenian Defense Ministry is 
theoretically and practically impossible,” the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry said.
The EU, which launched its border monitoring mission earlier this year, has 
taken on a broader mediation role between the two countries as they deal with 
disputes over Nagorno-Karabakh.
Tensions between Baku and Yerevan have escalated sharply in recent days as both 
sides accuse the other of cross-border gunfire and violating the ceasefire 
agreement. Armenia has sounded the alarm over humanitarian aid deliveries to 
Nagorno-Karabakh over the Lachin Corridor linking the Armenian-populated region 
to Armenia.
The UN Security Council is scheduled to hold an emergency meeting on August 16 
on the issue of humanitarian access to Nagorno-Karabakh, which Yerevan and 
Stepanakert say has been denied for months by Azerbaijan after it imposed an 
“illegal blockade” on the region.
During the session in New York Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan will 
discuss the worsening humanitarian situation in Nagorno-Karabakh as a result of 
Azerbaijan’s blockade of the Lachin Corridor.
Azerbaijan denies blockading Nagorno-Karabakh and has offered an alternative 
route for supplies via the town of Agdam, which is situated east of the region 
and is controlled by Baku.
Russia on August 15 urged Azerbaijan to open the Lachin Corridor. The Russian 
Foreign Ministry issued a statement following a telephone call between Foreign 
Minister Sergei Lavrov and his Azerbaijani counterpart, Jeyhun Bayramov.
“Particular emphasis was placed on the need for the practical implementation of 
steps previously agreed in principle, aimed at the speedy de-escalation of the 
situation around Nagorno-Karabakh, including the unblocking of humanitarian 
routes, including the Lachin Corridor,” the statement said.
Russia brokered a ceasefire agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan that ended 
their 44-day war over Nagorno-Karabakh in November 2020. Since then it has 
deployed about 2,000 peacekeepers in Nagorno-Karabakh, including along the 
Lachin Corridor, under the terms of the agreement. Yerevan and Stepanakert 
insist that Azerbaijan’s installing a checkpoint along the vital road is a 
violation of the ceasefire deal.
Nagorno-Karabakh Reports First Death From Hunger
        • Artak Khulian
Nagorno-Karabakh -- Empty shelves in a Stepanakert supermarket (file photo)
Ethnic Armenian authorities in Nagorno-Karabakh have reported the first death 
from hunger in the region that has been cut off from all commercial and 
humanitarian supplies for weeks due to a de facto blockade imposed by Azerbaijan.
The office of Nagorno-Karabakh’s ombudsman said on Tuesday that a 40-year-old 
man from Stepanakert identified as K. Hovhannisian died as a result of “chronic 
malnutrition, protein and energy deficiency.”
“The catastrophic food situation caused by the blockade and especially the 
two-month-long complete siege, leading to the malnutrition of people and the 
threat of hunger, the lack of necessary medicines and the inability of the full 
functioning of the healthcare system create direct and undeniable threats to the 
120,000-strong population of Artsakh [Nagorno-Karabakh – ed.],” it said.
Meanwhile, Nagorno-Karabakh’s health authorities said that hemodialysis patients 
were being evacuated from the region “to avoid death due to growing shortages of 
necessary medical supplies.”
According to the de facto Health Ministry of Nagorno-Karabakh, 29 such patients 
have been transported to Armenia during the past two days, while 12 have refused 
to be evacuated and risk dying when suppression of their kidney function becomes 
life-threatening.
Kristine Avagimian, head of the hemodialysis department at Stepanakert’s 
hospital, said that each of the patients with kidney deficiency who preferred 
staying in Nagorno-Karabakh had their own reason for that.
“One of the patients has minor children to take care of, some are 
wheelchair-bound and have mobility problems. In other words, each has family and 
personal problems that led to such a decision, while they are well aware what it 
would lead to,” the doctor said.
Authorities in Nagorno-Karabakh estimate that medical supplies needed for 
hemodialysis will run out in the region in about two weeks.
Tensions around Nagorno-Karabakh escalated again in recent days and weeks amid a 
deteriorating humanitarian situation in the region that Armenia blames on 
Azerbaijan, saying that it continues to block all commercial and humanitarian 
supplies to the region through the Lachin corridor, the only road connecting 
Nagorno-Karabakh with Armenia.
Baku denies blockading the region and offers an alternative route of supply from 
within Azerbaijan via the eastern town of Agdam, which is rejected by Karabakh 
Armenians who fear it could be a prelude to their absorption into Azerbaijan.
Following an appeal from Nagorno-Karabakh’s ethnic Armenian leader Arayik 
Harutiunian to the international community over the blockade last week Armenia 
asked the United Nations Security Council to hold an emergency meeting on the 
humanitarian situation in the region.
Such a meeting has been scheduled for August 16, the Associated Press reported 
on Tuesday.
Armenia Expects Next Round Of Peace Talks With Azerbaijan In September
The national flags of Armenia and Azerbaijan
The next round of Armenian-Azerbaijani negotiations around a peace treaty is 
expected in September, a senior official in Yerevan has told Public Television.
In an August 14 interview Edmon Marukian, ambassador-at-large at Armenia’s 
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, did not specify where such negotiations will take 
place.
The latest Armenian-Azerbaijani talks on the peace treaty took place in Moscow 
on July 25 and were held at the level of foreign ministers.
It followed several rounds of negotiations hosted by the United States and the 
European Union.
Matthew Miller, a spokesman for the U.S. Department of State, on August 7 
reiterated Washington’s belief that a peace agreement between Armenia and 
Azerbaijan remained “within reach.”
He made the remark while commenting on an earlier statement by Denis Gonchar, a 
senior Russian Foreign Ministry official, who said that “a hastily prepared, raw 
[Armenian-Azerbaijani] peace treaty would not bring a sustainable peace to the 
region, but, on the contrary, would lay the foundation for new conflicts and 
tragedies in the future.”
Tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan escalated again in recent days amid a 
reportedly deteriorating humanitarian situation in Nagorno-Karabakh that Yerevan 
blames on Azerbaijan, saying that it continues to block all commercial and 
humanitarian supplies to the region where an estimated 120,000 ethnic Armenians 
live. Azerbaijan denies blockading the region.
Following an appeal from Nagorno-Karabakh’s ethnic Armenian leader Arayik 
Harutiunian to the international community over the blockade last week Armenia 
asked the United Nations Security Council to hold an emergency meeting on 
Nagorno-Karabakh. Such a meeting has been scheduled for August 16, the 
Associated Press reported on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Azerbaijan accused Armenia of conducting a military buildup along the 
border, a claim denied by Yerevan and refuted by a European Union mission (EUMA) 
that has been monitoring areas along the Armenian-Azerbaijan border since last 
year.
The EUMA mission today first refuted a report by Armenia’s Defense Ministry that 
its patrol has been a target of shooting, but then corrected its statement, 
saying that “we confirm that a EUMA patrol has been present to the shooting 
incident in our area of responsibility.” It added on X that no EUMA member was 
harmed.
Meanwhile, Armenia’s Foreign Ministry suggested on Monday that Baku’s “spreading 
false information” about Armenia’s military buildup “indicates Azerbaijan’s 
intention to aggravate the situation in the region.”
Armenia said late on Monday that one of its soldiers stationed at a border 
position was seriously wounded by fire coming from the Azerbaijani side. Both 
countries have blamed each other for ceasefire violations along the restive 
border in recent days. Baku and Stepanakert have also traded accusations for 
reported shooting incidents around Nagorno-Karabakh.
U.N. Security Council To Hold Emergency Meeting On Nagorno-Karabakh
A meeting of the UN Security Council (file photo)
The United Nations Security Council has scheduled an emergency meeting for 
August 16 in response to a call from Armenia saying the mainly 
Armenian-populated region of Nagorno-Karabakh is facing hunger and “a 
full-fledged humanitarian catastrophe” due to a blockade imposed by Azerbaijan.
Armenia’s U.N. Ambassador Mher Margarian asked for the meeting on the “dire 
situation in Nagorno-Karabakh” in a letter to the ambassador of the United 
States, which holds the Security Council presidency this month.
The U.S. Mission to the U.N. said Monday the emergency open meeting will take 
place on Wednesday afternoon, the Associated Press reported.
In his letter to Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield, Margarian said Azerbaijan’s 
complete blockade since June 15 of the Lachin Corridor – the only road 
connecting Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia – has created severe shortages of food, 
medicine and fuel.
Armenia’s move came after Nagorno-Karabakh’s ethnic Armenian leader Arayik 
Harutiunian appealed to the international community for “immediate action” to 
lift the de facto blockade imposed by Azerbaijan and prevent what he called “the 
genocide of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh.”
Baku denies blockading Nagorno-Karabakh and offers an alternative route for 
supplies via Agdam, an Azerbaijani-controlled town situated east of the region. 
Stepanakert rejects the offer, saying that the closure of the Lachin corridor is 
a violation of the terms of the Moscow-brokered 2020 ceasefire agreement that 
the Armenian side insists places the vital route solely under the control of 
Russian peacekeepers.
Meanwhile, Armenia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that Foreign Minister 
Ararat Mirzoyan will be in New York to attend the emergency meeting of the UN 
Security Council.
Azerbaijan Slams Spain For ‘Supporting Separatist Regime’ In Karabakh
Aykhan Hajizade, a spokesman for the Foreign Ministry of Azerbaijan (file photo).
Official Baku has condemned the Spanish government for its “unacceptable” 
decision to “support a separatist regime established by Armenia on the sovereign 
territory of Azerbaijan.”
The criticism came after Madrid announced its humanitarian assistance to 
residents of Nagorno-Karabakh whose ethnic Armenian leader last week appealed to 
the international community to prevent the starvation of the region that has 
been in a de facto blockade imposed by Azerbaijan for months.
In a post on its X (Twitter) account Spain’s embassy in Russia said that the 
Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) has decided to 
support a thousand people displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia.
“The AECID is activating its humanitarian action Acontraelhambre (“Action 
Against Hunger”) to help 1,000 people in Armenia displaced due to the 
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,” it said in a post made in Armenian. “A total of 250 
families will receive financial, psychological and social assistance,” it added.
Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry spokesman Aykhan Hajizade said in response that 
Baku “strongly condemns this unconstructive approach.”
“It is strange to see a country fighting separatism on its own territory while 
supporting separatism in other countries. Spain’s support for the illegal 
separatist regime established by Armenia on the sovereign territory of 
Azerbaijan is unacceptable. We strongly condemn this unconstructive approach,” 
Hajizade said.
Spain did not respond to the criticism immediately.
Later on Tuesday Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry also summoned Spain’s charge 
d’affaires in the country over the matter.
Amid severe shortages of basic foodstuffs, medical and fuel supplies experienced 
by Nagorno-Karabakh’s Armenians, Armenia last Friday officially asked the United 
Nations Security Council to hold an emergency meeting regarding the 
deterioration of the humanitarian situation in Nagorno-Karabakh.
Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation Jose Manuel 
Albares Bueno was one of the top foreign diplomats that Armenian Foreign 
Minister Ararat Mirzoyan has held phone calls with over the past several days to 
present the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Nagorno-Karabakh that 
Yerevan blames on Azerbaijan.
As he spoke to Bueno, Mirzoyan reportedly emphasized “the seriousness of the 
situation in Nagorno-Karabakh and the lack of necessary medical care resulting 
from the complete blockade of the Armenian-populated region since June 15, 
especially for the most sensitive groups such as 30,000 children, 20,000 elderly 
and 9,000 persons with disabilities.
”EU Monitors See No ‘Military Buildup’ On Armenian-Azerbaijani Border
EUMA members monitoring the situation alongside the Armenian-Azerbaijani border 
(file photo).
The European Union Mission in Armenia (EUMA) said it had observed no “unusual 
military movement or buildup” along the Armenian-Azerbaijani border after Baku 
accused Yerevan of amassing troops at the frontier.
The EUMA emphasized on Twitter that it daily monitors the military and security 
situation from four operating bases, patrolling alongside the 
Armenian-Azerbaijani border area.
“Based on the information on the ground, we see no unusual military movement or 
buildup, especially at the entrance to the Lachin corridor. We keep patrolling 
the areas,” the EUMA said.
Armenia’s Foreign Ministry on Monday also issued a statement calling accusations 
from Baku false. “The spreading of this false information indicates Azerbaijan’s 
intention to aggravate the situation in the region,” it charged, again rejecting 
Azerbaijan’s statements about the presence of Armenia’s troops in 
Nagorno-Karabakh.
“It is also evident that one of the objectives of Azerbaijan’s disinformation 
campaign is to divert the international community’s attention from the 
escalating humanitarian crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh, which is intensifying day by 
day, and from its steps to implement ethnic cleansing in Nagorno-Karabakh 
through provoking a humanitarian catastrophe,” the ministry said, referring to 
what Yerevan views as Azerbaijan’s illegal blockade of the Lachin corridor, the 
only road connecting Armenia with Nagorno-Karabakh.
Mutual accusations by Armenians and Azerbaijanis come amid reports of 
intensifying cross-border shootings that both sides blame on each other. Armenia 
said one of its soldiers was seriously wounded when Azerbaijan opened fire along 
the eastern border on Monday.
Armenia and Azerbaijan have been locked in a conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh for 
decades. Some 30,000 people were killed in a war in the early 1990s that left 
ethnic Armenians in control of the predominantly Armenian-populated region and 
seven adjacent districts of Azerbaijan proper.
Decades of internationally mediated talks failed to result in a diplomatic 
solution and the simmering conflict led to another war in 2020 in which nearly 
7,000 soldiers were killed on both sides.
The 44-day war in which Azerbaijan regained all of the Armenian-controlled areas 
outside of Nagorno-Karabakh as well as chunks of territory inside the Soviet-era 
autonomous oblast proper ended with a Russia-brokered ceasefire under which 
Moscow deployed about 2,000 troops to the region to serve as peacekeepers.
Despite the ceasefire and publicly stated willingness of the leaders of both 
Armenia and Azerbaijan to work towards a negotiated peace, tensions between the 
two South Caucasus nations escalated in June after Azerbaijan tightened its 
blockade at a checkpoint installed in April on the road known as the Lachin 
corridor, the only link between Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh.
Yerevan and Stepanakert view the Azerbaijani roadblock as a violation of the 
terms of the ceasefire agreement that they insist places the vital route solely 
under the control of Russian peacekeepers.
Amid severe shortages of basic foodstuffs, medical and fuel supplies experienced 
by Nagorno-Karabakh’s Armenians, Armenia last Friday officially asked the United 
Nations Security Council to hold an emergency meeting regarding the 
deterioration of the humanitarian situation in Nagorno-Karabakh.
The move came after the region’s ethnic Armenian leader appealed to the 
international community for “immediate action” to lift the de facto blockade 
imposed by Azerbaijan and prevent what he called “the genocide of the people of 
Nagorno-Karabakh.”
Azerbaijan denies blockading Nagorno-Karabakh and offers an alternative route 
for supplies via the town of Agdam, which is situated east of the region and is 
controlled by Baku.
However, Nagorno-Karabakh’s authorities have rejected that offer amid concerns 
in Stepanakert that the opening of the Agdam road could be a prelude to the 
region’s absorption by Azerbaijan.
Reposted on ANN/Armenian News with permission from RFE/RL
Copyright (c) 2023 Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, Inc.
1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

The California Courier Online, August 17, 2023

Hunanian Jack

The California
Courier Online, August 17, 2023

 

1-         Righteous
Jews Appeal to Israel

            To Help
Open the Lachin Corridor

            By Harut
Sassounian

            Publisher,
The California
Courier

            www.TheCaliforniaCourier.com

2-         Artsakh
Protesters block 134 Freeway in Glendale;

            Hold
Overnight Rally at Azeri Consulate

3-         Armenian
Government Allocates Money for Snoop Dogg Concert in Yerevan

4-         Nareg
Keshishian Appointed Principal of Armenian
Mesrobian School

 

************************************************************************************************************************************************

 

1-         Righteous
Jews Appeal to Israel

            To Help
Open the Lachin Corridor

            By Harut
Sassounian

            Publisher,
The California
Courier

            www.TheCaliforniaCourier.com

           

There are pro and anti-Armenian individuals in every
nationality. Jews are no exception. There are Jews who support us and those who
oppose us. We should not generalize and paint everyone with the same brush.
Armenians should not treat every Jew as an opponent just because the Israeli
government denies the Armenian Genocide and sells billions of dollars of arms
to Azerbaijan.

Armenians have the right to criticize the Israeli government
and Jews who are anti-Armenian. I severely condemned Israel’s
denial of the Armenian Genocide in my 2015 lecture at an Israeli University.
After the lecture, I met with the President of Israel Reuven Rivlin and told
him that the government of Israel,
whose own people were victims of genocide, should have been the first country
to recognize the Armenian Genocide, not the last. Pres. Rivlin told me that he
recognized the Armenian Genocide and blamed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
for denying it.

I just received copies of two letters sent by a group of
righteous Israelis to their country’s top officials, requesting that they
intervene with Azerbaijan
to unblock the Lachin Corridor.

The first letter was sent to Israel’s
Foreign Minister Eli Cohen on January 15, 2023, asking for his assistance to
prevent “a grave humanitarian crisis and loss of life” due to Azerbaijan’s
blockade of the Lachin Corridor. The 17 prominent Jewish signers of the letter,
including Rabbis, journalists and scholars, wrote: “We believe that you, the
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Israel, through your ties with your counterparts
in Azerbaijan and Russia, can
help to avoid this grave humanitarian crisis. Therefore we ask that you
approach them urgently to work for the lifting of the blockade of the Lachin
Corridor.”

The second letter was sent on August 11, 2023, to Israel’s President Isaac Herzog who had recently
visited Azerbaijan.
The letter-writers requested him “to make a personal appeal to your
counterparts in Azerbaijan
and demand their immediate removal of the blockade of the Lachin Corridor.” The
35 prominent Jewish signers of the letter, including Rabbis, scholars,
journalists, a former Cabinet Minister and Member of Knesset, architects and
scientists, wrote: “The State of Israel enjoys close ties with Azerbaijan, the
state which is responsible for this crisis, and has the ability to resolve it.
These ties obligate the State of Israel to take a clear stand, and not to stand
idly by…. The aid that we [Israel]
provided [to Azerbaijan]
means that we have a special responsibility not to be a bystander, and also
gives us an important opportunity to have a positive impact. We cannot remain
silent, especially in light of our historic and multilayered connection with
the Armenian people.”

Beyond these letters, hundreds of Jews and Armenians in Israel held
several protests during and after the 2020 Artsakh War. One of the protests was
in front of the Ministry of Defense in Tel Aviv, criticizing the sale of
Israeli arms to Azerbaijan.
Some of the protesters held models of drones with blood stains painted on them
with the words ‘Made in Israel.’

Avidan Freedman, one of the founders of Yanshoof, an
organization dedicated to stopping Israeli arms sales to human rights
violators, published an article in The Times of Israel on ,
titled: “The Artsakh humanitarian crisis is our responsibility. Here’s why.” He
wrote: “Israel provided Azerbaijan with
69% of its arms in the period between 2016 and 2020. During the 2020 Artsakh
War, a senior Israeli military source asserted that ‘Azerbaijan would not have been able
to continue its operation at this level without our support.’” Freedman
concluded: “the current humanitarian crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh was enabled by
Israeli support…. The emerging humanitarian crisis, Israel’s
military support of Azerbaijan,
and the Jewish people’s historic and moral connection to the Armenian people
combine to create a clear moral responsibility. Israel
must take a moral stance and call on Azerbaijan to immediately lift its
blockade of the Lachin Corridor.”

To illustrate the depth of pro-Armenian sympathies among
some Jews, I would like to quote Dr. Israel Charny, one of the signers of the
above mentioned two letters. He is the Executive Director of the
Jerusalem-based Institute on the Holocaust and Genocide and author of “Israel’s Failed
Response to the Armenian Genocide.” In 2009, Charny and I were invited to speak
at the UK Parliament. Since he could not attend due to illness, he submitted
his speech in writing. Here is an excerpt: “No less than the arch fighter for
peace in the Israel-Palestinian conflict, Shimon Peres, now President of
Israel, then serving as Israel’s
Foreign Minister, twice went notably out of his way to insult the history and
memory of the Armenian Genocide.”

In 2001, Charny sent a scathing letter to Peres: “You have
gone beyond a moral boundary that no Jew should allow himself to trespass….
As a Jew and an Israeli, I am ashamed of the extent to which you have now
entered into the range of actual denial of the Armenian Genocide, comparable to
denials of the Holocaust.”

In response to an “especially insulting” denial by Peres in
2002, Dr. Charny sent him one of my editorials in The California Courier, with
the following note: “I am enclosing with great concern for your attention an
editorial in a leading US-Armenian newspaper calling on Armenia to
expel the Israeli Ambassador [Rivka Cohen, after she denied the Armenian
Genocide]. For your further information, the author of this editorial, who is
the head of the United Armenian Fund in the US
— comparable to our United Jewish Appeal — was for many years a delegate to
the UN Human Rights Commission in Geneva.”

Armenians should support their friends and criticize their
opponents regardless of their nationality.

 

************************************************************************************************************************************************
2-         Artsakh Protesters block 134
Freeway in Glendale;

            Hold
Overnight Rally at Azeri Consulate

LOS ANGELES (KABC)—Several hundred protesters blocked all
the eastbound lanes on the 134 Freeway at its interchange with the 5 Freeway on
Wednesday, August 10, aiming to bring awareness to humanitarian conflicts in Armenia, and to
call attention to the crisis in Artsakh.

Using a big rig, they blocked off the eastbound side of the
freeway at Central and Brand avenues. Protesters then gathered on freeway lanes
and unfurled signs calling for support from Rep. Adam Schiff.

Protesters have also been showing up at Schiff’s local
office in recent days, calling on the Democratic congressman to do more to support
their cause.

Schiff has expressed support for ending the blockade, but
some Armenian protesters feel he has not done enough for the cause.

One sign unfurled on lanes read “Adam Schiff don’t ignore
us” and another pleaded “Open the road of life.”

In the past, Schiff has issued statements condemning the
blockade and calling for the Biden Administration to take action. He also has
authored a House resolution calling for recognition of Artsakh’s sovereignty
and condemning Azerbaijan’s
aggression.

On Wednesday, August 9, Schiff issued a new statement which
read:

“I stand with the people of Armenia, Artsakh, and the
Armenian-American community —not only my constituents but those around the
world. I hear and see your pain over the inhumane situation your brothers and
sisters are facing.

From condemning ceasefire violations, to advocating for the
release of Armenian prisoners of war, to calling for sanctions and
accountability for Azerbaijan,
I’ve always been, and will continue to be, steadfast in my commitment to
ensuring the protection of fundamental rights for the people of Artsakh.”

I am in communication with the Biden Administration, the
State Department, and my Congressional colleagues and am advocating for using
all tools at our disposal, including pushing for U.S.
humanitarian aid to Artsakh, cutting off military and other assistance to Azerbaijan, and
imposing sanctions on those responsible for this crisis.

I will be with you every step of the way and will always
stand with the people of Armenia
and Artsakh.”

The mayor of Burbank, Konstantine Anthony, met with the
Armenian Americans who are protesting against the ongoing blockade.

The mayor said that he is also concerned about Artsakh and
is concerned and disappointed that US
President Joe Biden is still sending military aid to Azerbaijan.

On Sunday, August 14, the Armenian community cordoned off
the building of the Consulate of Azerbaijan—where consulates of five other
countries, including Israel
and Bulgaria
also operate. The protesters blocked the Wilshire Boulevard leading to the
consulate building. They spent the night there, and in the morning they did not
let Azeri consular officials enter the building. According to the Alpha News correspondent
in Los Angeles, the police tried to unblock the road, but the Armenian
activists convinced them to continue the rally.

The protesters raised the flag of Artsakh and banners that
say “With Artsakh, in the name of Artsakh”, “Armenians face genocide under
Azeri rule” and “Stop the second Armenian Genocide” at the entrance to the
building.

 

************************************************************************************************************************************************
3-         Armenian Government Allocates
Money for Snoop Dogg Concert in Yerevan

By Marine Khachatrian

 

The Armenian government has allocated more than $5 million
for the organization of a concert of American rapper Snoop Dogg in Yerevan.

The concert is scheduled to be held at the Hrazdan Stadium
in the Armenian capital on September 23.

Up to 25,000 people are expected to attend the event that is
also anticipated to generate tourism to the country.

 The first
announcement of a possible Snoop Dogg concert in Yerevan was made by chief of the prime
minister’s office Arayik Harutiunian in late July. A document appeared online
shortly thereafter according to which more than $23 million would be allocated
from the state budget for three concerts.

The kind of state funding sparked a public debate in Armenia, with
many challenging the wisdom of such government spending.

“One person—at least one person—rebel against this decision.
We will spend six million dollars. Allocate instead those six million to the
treatment of children with cancer,” wrote Edik Baghdasaryan on his Facebook
page on August 11. Baghdasaryan is a prominent investigative journalist known
for his stories exposing government corruption in Armenia. He is the head of the
Armenian Association of Investigative Journalists and editor of Armenia’s only
investigative journalism newspaper, Hetq.

“On September 23, four days before the anniversary of the
44-day war, the government is organizing a big concert. Deputy Prime Ministers
and Ministers sat humbly at the Cabinet meeting today. And although some of
them were against that decision, they remained silent. Everyone is silent and
obedient. There is no food or medicine in Artsakh, we don’t know what could
happen every minute there, on the borders. Against this background, why are you
organizing this celebration? Cancel that gig. And in general, what does the
government have to do with organizing a concert?” questioned Baghdasaryan.

The Armenian government initially denied these reports. In a
statement released on July 29, the Prime Minister’s Office said the media
reports were “totally untrue” while adding that the Cabinet would soon adopt a
decision in relation to the concert—and all the details, including its possible
economic impact, would be made public.

Observers note that concerts and visits to Armenia in recent
years by such world stars and celebrities as American rapper 50 Cent, Armenian
American musician Serj Tankian, Armenian American reality TV star Kim
Kardashian and her former spouse, rapper Kanye West have helped raise the
country’s international visibility and attract a greater number of tourists
both immediately as well as in the longer run.

Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr., a 51-year-old rapper and actor
professionally known as Snoop Dogg, has sold 35 million albums worldwide since
1992, and remains one of the world’s most popular performers.

 

**********************************************************************************************************************************************

4-         Nareg Keshishian
Appointed Principal of Armenian
Mesrobian School

 

The Board of Regents of the Prelacy Armenian Schools
announced the appointment of Nareg Keshishian as the new principal of Armenian Mesrobian School.

Nareg Keshishian is a graduate of Armenian
Mesrobian School,
class of 1981, and his educational background includes a degree in History from
University of California
at Los Angeles
(UCLA), and teaching credential from Teachers College Columbia University.
Keshishian has received numerous awards including Revson Foundation/NY Times 50
most inspirational teachers in NY City and the Hoover Hero award.

With a background in education, which includes teaching,
mentoring, and administration, Keshishian has designed and implemented an
enrichment program for Kindergarten, 4th, 5th and 9th grades at The Renaissance
School, Queens NY and has served as a teacher and mentoring program coordinator
at Paul Robeson HS, Brooklyn
NY. After his time in New York,
Keshishian has served as a teacher, student body advisor and chair of the
Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) school culture group at
Hoover HS in Glendale, Calif.; and as a teacher, Director of APEX credit
recovery program, and chapter advisor for Junior State of America and Armenian
club at Crescenta Valley High School in La Crescenta, CA.

 

***********************************************************************************************************************************************
************************************************************************************************************************************************

California Courier Online provides readers of the Armenian News News Service with a
few of the articles in this week’s issue of The California Courier. Letters to
the editor are encouraged through our e-mail address, .
Letters are published with the author’s name and location; authors are required
to disclose their identity to the editorial staff (name, address, and/or
telephone numbers for verification purposes).
California Courier subscribers can change or modify mailing addresses by
emailing .

Central Bank of Armenia: exchange rates and prices of precious metals – 10-08-23

Hunanian Jack

 17:08,

YEREVAN, 10 AUGUST, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 10 August, USD exchange rate down by 0.02 drams to 386.05 drams. EUR exchange rate up by 1.99 drams to 425.74 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate stood at 3.96 drams. GBP exchange rate up by 1.36 drams to 493.06 drams.

The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals.

Gold price down by 46.54 drams to 23864.78 drams. Silver price down by 4.17 drams to 281.81 drams.

Armenpress: UN experts urge Azerbaijan to lift Lachin corridor blockade and end humanitarian crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh

Hunanian Jack

 23:21, 7 August 2023

YEREVAN, AUGUST 7, ARMENPRESS. A group of UN experts today expressed alarm over the ongoing blockade of the Lachin corridor by Azerbaijan, which has led to a dire humanitarian crisis in the region of Nagorno-Karabakh.

The blockade, obstructing the sole road connecting Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia for the past seven months, has left the population facing acute shortages of food staples, medication, and hygiene products, impacted the functioning of medical and educational institutions, and placed the lives of the residents – especially children, persons with disabilities, older persons, pregnant women, and the sick – at significant risk.

“The blockade of the Lachin Corridor is a humanitarian emergency that has created severe shortages of essential food staples including sunflower oil, fish, chicken, dairy products, cereal, sugar and baby formula,” the experts said.

They warned that the region was rapidly depleting its medical reserves, and hospitals were struggling to provide care as the operation of ambulances has been hampered due to declining fuel supplies.

The experts urged authorities in Azerbaijan to immediately restore the free and secure movement of persons, vehicles, and cargo moving along the Lachin corridor in both directions, in accordance with the ceasefire agreement of November 2020.

They also called on Russian peacekeeping forces deployed in the region, to protect the corridor under the terms of the ceasefire agreement.

“By lifting the blockade, the authorities can alleviate the suffering of thousands of people in Nagorno-Karabakh and allow for the unimpeded flow of humanitarian assistance to the civilian population,” the experts said. “It is essential to ensure the safety, dignity, and well-being of all individuals during this critical time,” they said.

“We urge the Government of Azerbaijan to uphold its international obligations to respect and protect human rights, including the right to food, health, education and life. We also emphasise the importance of cooperation and dialogue among all parties involved to find a peaceful and sustainable resolution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,” the experts said.

The experts: Michael Fakhri, Special Rapporteur on the right to food; Farida Shaheed, Special Rapporteur on the right to education; Claudia Mahler, Independent Expert on the enjoyment of all human rights by older persons; Gerard Quinn, 



Azeri kidnapping and arrest of Nagorno-Karabakh residents complicates resolution process, says Moscow

Hunanian Jack

 16:00, 2 August 2023

YEREVAN, AUGUST 2, ARMENPRESS. Russian foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova has commented on the abduction of the Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) citizen Vagif Khachatryan by Azerbaijan, as well as the arrest of the lost Artsakh citizen Rashid Beglaryan.

According to Zakharova, such situations further complicate the process of finding solutions.

“What happened, of course, complicates the process of finding difficult but necessary conclusions, compromises and solutions. Of course, this exacerbates the situation. Secondly, we saw diametrically opposite assessments of the Armenian and Azerbaijani sides. Thirdly, regardless of this particular incident or other similar incidents, we rely on the importance of reconciliation both in the context of the normalization of Armenian-Azerbaijani relations and in the context of ensuring the rights and security of the people of Karabakh,” said Zakharova.

The spokesperson also emphasized the importance of the immediate opening of Lachin corridor.

“We are working with the parties and once again reaffirm the need to immediately unblock the Lachin corridor and ensure normal conditions for the life of the local population,” added Zakharova.

According to Zakharova, a lot depends on the political will and willingness to make compromises in this matter.

Vagif Khachatryan, a 68-year-old citizen of Artsakh, was abducted on July 29 from the illegal Azeri checkpoint in the Lachin Corridor, when he was on his way to Yerevan for medical treatment accompanied by the International Committee of the Red Cross. And 61-year-old Rashid Beglaryan left the Hin Shen village of Shushi while intoxicated on August 1, got lost, accidentally crossed into Azeri-controlled territory, and was arrested by the Azerbaijani border guards.

RFE/RL Armenian Service – 07/26/2023

Hunanian Jack 
                                        Wednesday, July 26, 2023
Azerbaijan Blocks Armenian Aid Convoy To Karabakh
July 26, 2023
Armenia - Trucks carrying food aid to Nagorno-Karabakh approach the Lachin 
corridor, July 26, 2023.
Azerbaijan refused on Wednesday to allow a convoy of trucks to deliver emergency 
food aid provided by Armenia to Nagorno-Karabakh through the Lachin corridor 
that has been blocked by Baku for more than seven months.
The Armenian government announced on Tuesday that it will try to send 360 tons 
of flour, cooking oil, sugar and other basic foodstuffs to Karabakh to alleviate 
severe food shortages there caused by the blockade. Government officials 
expressed hope that Russian peacekeepers will escort the relief supplies to the 
Armenian-populated region.
Nineteen Armenian trucks carrying them reached the entrance to the Lachin 
corridor late in the afternoon but remained stranded there in the following 
hours, with Baku refusing to let them though an Azerbaijani checkpoint 
controversially set up there in April.
The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry condemned the aid convoy as a “provocation” and 
“encroachment” on Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity. A senior aide to 
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said Yerevan should renounce “territorial 
claims” to his country and stop impeding the restoration of Azerbaijani control 
over Karabakh.
The official, Hikmet Hajyev, said Karabakh should be supplied with basic 
necessities from Azerbaijan proper and the town of Aghdam in particular. “There 
is no other way!” tweeted Hajiyev.
Karabakh’s ethnic Armenian leadership has rejected the proposed Azerbaijani 
supply line. It maintains that Baku should comply with a Russian-brokered 
ceasefire that mandates unfettered commercial traffic through the only road 
connecting Karabakh to Armenia.
Meanwhile, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian defended the attempted 
delivery of the humanitarian aid.
“We cannot turn a blind eye to the situation that Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh 
are currently facing,” Pashinian wrote in a late-night tweet. “The 360 tons of 
vitally important foodstuff sent to Nagorno-Karabakh is exclusively for 
humanitarian purposes.”
The shortages of food, medicine, fuel and other essential items in Karabakh have 
worsened significantly since Baku completely blocked on June 15 relief supplies 
that were carried out by the Russian peacekeepers and the International 
Committee of the Red Cross.
Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan said last week that Karabakh is “on 
the verge of starvation” and called for stronger international pressure on Baku.
Armenia’s Top Investigator Not Charged Over Torture Claims
July 26, 2023
        • Naira Bulghadarian
Armenia - Argisthi Kyaramian, head of Armenia's Investigative Committee, meets 
with the U.S. ambassador in Yerevan, June 22, 2023.
The head of Armenia’s Investigative Committee, Argishti Kyaramian, has not been 
indicted in a criminal inquiry into allegations that he tortured and threatened 
to kill a man arrested in June.
Tigran Arakelian, a former political activist, was charged with blackmailing 
state officials to extort money from them and moved to house arrest a few days 
later. In a video message posted on social media on June 22, Arakelian claimed 
that Kyaramian and the chief of the Investigative Committee’s Yerevan division, 
Azat Gevorgian, beat him up in the latter’s office.
“They poured water on me and started burning various parts of my body with an 
electric shock gun,” he claimed.
Kyaramian dismissed through a spokesman the “baseless” allegations before 
prosecutors ordered another law-enforcement agency, the National Security 
Service (NSS), to investigate them.
The Office of the Prosecutor-General told RFE/RL’s Armenian Service on Wednesday 
that nobody has been charged in that probe yet. It did not comment further.
The NSS has interrogated Arakelian as a “victim.” But it has declined to clarify 
whether Kyaramian or Gevorgian were also questioned.
Kyaramian, 32, is widely regarded as one of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian’s 
trusted lieutenants, having held five high-level positions in the Armenian 
security apparatus and government since 2018.
Armenia - Tigran Arakelian.
In further Facebook broadcasts, Arakelian alleged that Kyaramian tried to force 
him to testify that NSS Director Armen Abazian and Prosecutor-General Anna 
Vardapetian gave him discrediting information about senior government officials 
which he then passed on to an Armenian video blogger based in the United States.
The blogger, Vartan Ghukasian, is a former police officer nicknamed Dog. He has 
attracted a large audience in recent years with his hard-hitting and opinionated 
comments on events taking place in Armenia. Ghukasian is notorious for routinely 
using profanities to attack both Armenia’s current leaders and their political 
foes in videos posted on YouTube.
The Investigative Committee charged Ghukasian with extortion, calls for violence 
and contempt of court before a Yerevan court issued in May an international 
arrest warrant for him. The ex-policeman denies the accusations.
A group of Ghukasian’s friends and like-minded individuals in Armenia are facing 
the same charges. At least one of them is held in detention.
Arakelian used to be a well-known member of former President Levon 
Ter-Petrosian’s Armenian National Congress (HAK) party. He was already arrested 
in 2015 and subsequently convicted of blackmailing two Armenian parliamentarians.
Yerevan Draws Fresh Criticism From Karabakh
July 26, 2023
        • Astghik Bedevian
        • Susan Badalian
Armenia - A Karabakh flag is displayed during a protest outside the French 
Embassy in Yerevn, July 18, 2023.
Nagorno-Karabakh’s leadership demanded on Wednesday explanations from the 
Armenian government over Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov’s claim that it 
has accepted Azerbaijan’s terms of a dialogue between Baku and Stepanakert.
Speaking after a trilateral meeting with his Armenian and Azerbaijani 
counterparts in Moscow held on Tuesday, Lavrov said they discussed “the problem 
of guaranteeing the rights and security of the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh in 
the context of ensuring the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan.” He said 
Yerevan “understands the need to convince the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh” to 
reach agreements with Baku stemming from international conventions on ethnic 
minorities.
As of Wednesday afternoon, the Armenian Foreign Ministry declined to comment on 
Lavrov’s statement which prompted serious concern from the Karabakh premier, 
Gurgen Nersisian.
“It is becoming clear from yesterday's statement by the Russian foreign minister 
that Armenia has already decided the range of issues to be discussed during the 
dialogue or has agreed with the subject of discussion proposed by Azerbaijan,” 
Nersisian wrote on Facebook. “Now either Armenia must deny that or we will have 
to conclude that the ‘bar’ on the Baku-Stepanakert dialogue has also been 
lowered to an unspeakable extent.”
Nagorno-Karabakh - Gurgen Nersisian.
Nersisian said that the agenda of such a dialogue must include Karabakh’s right 
to self-determination still championed by the authorities in Stepanakert. Arayik 
Harutiunian, the Karabakh president, complained late last month that Baku is 
only willing to discuss the Armenian-populated region’s “integration” into 
Azerbaijan.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev warned in late May that the Karabakh 
Armenians must accept Azerbaijani rule or risk fresh military action. In 
mid-June, Baku completely blocked relief supplies to Karabakh carried out by 
Russian peacekeepers and the International Committee of the Red Cross.
Aliyev’s threats and the tightening of the blockade followed Armenian Prime 
Minister Nikol Pashinian’s pledge to recognize Azerbaijani sovereignty over 
Karabakh.
Nersisian demanded that Yerevan walk back on that pledge when he addressed late 
on Tuesday thousands of people who again rallied in Stepanakert in protest 
against the Azerbaijani blockade. “Artsakh and the people of Artsakh cannot be 
part of Azerbaijan,” he said, responding to Pashinian’s comments made at a news 
conference earlier in the day.
The tensions between Yerevan and Stepanakert have been stoked by a controversy 
caused by Pashinian’s wife, Anna Hakobian.
Last week, Hakobian posted on her Facebook page photographs of vegetables grown 
in the garden of the Pashinian family’s state-owned residence and a soup cooked 
by her. Critics in Armenia and especially Karabakh said the post was 
inappropriate and ill-timed given the worsening food shortages in Karabakh.
Singapore - Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian takes a selfie with his wife 
Anna Hakobian during a visit to Singapore, July 7, 2019.
Pashinian bristled at the criticism during his news conference, seemingly 
blaming Stepanakert for it. He spent about 15 minutes detailing the Armenian 
government’s economic aid to Karabakh and accusing the Karabakh authorities of 
failing to develop local agriculture to better cope with the blockade
“Some should have planted eggplants instead of [relying on] 150 billion drams 
[in Armenian government aid,]” he said.
Nersisian hit back at Pashinian in his speech at the Stepanakert rally. He 
argued that Karabakh farmers have cultivated this year more land than in 2022 
and 2021 but now have trouble harvesting their crops because of systematic 
gunfire from Azerbaijani army positions. Also, he said, a lack of fuel prevents 
them from delivering agricultural produce to markets.
Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan said last week that “Azerbaijan 
continues to obstruct agricultural activities on approximately 10,000 hectares 
of land adjacent to the line of contact, which constitutes a significant portion 
of [Karabakh’s] total cultivated land.”
EU Hopes For Renewed Red Cross Aid To Karabakh
July 26, 2023
Armenia - A convoy of Red Cross vehicles is seen outside Stepanakert, January 4, 
2023.
A senior European Union diplomat effectively urged Azerbaijan on Wednesday to 
allow the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to resume its 
humanitarian aid to Nagorno-Karabakh.
Toivo Klaar, the EU’s special envoy for the South Caucasus, posted on his 
Twitter page an ICRC statement expressing serious concern over severe shortages 
of food and life-saving medicine in Karabakh resulting from the Azerbaijani 
blockade of the Lachin corridor.
The statement issued on Tuesday warned that humanitarian situation there “will 
further deteriorate” unless the Geneva-based organization is allowed to again 
ship limited quantities of such items.
“The ICRC is doing a tremendous job in very challenging circumstances on the 
ground,” tweeted Klaar. “It is important that they are able to operate freely. 
The EU is taking their warnings seriously.”
The EU has repeatedly urged Azerbaijan to unblock the only road connecting 
Karabakh to Armenia. The president of the EU’s decision-making Council, Charles 
Michel, reiterated those calls when he hosted fresh talks between Azerbaijani 
President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian in Brussels 
on July 15.
At the same time, Michel appreciated Baku’s offer to deliver basic necessities 
to Karabakh through an alternative, Azerbaijani-controlled route bypassing the 
Lachin corridor.
“I see both options as important,” he said, prompting strong criticism from 
Karabakh’s leadership that regards the offer as a cynical ploy designed to 
facilitate the restoration of Azerbaijani control over Karabakh.
The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry pointed to the Karabakh Armenians’ rejection of 
the alternative supply line when it reacted to the ICRC statement later on 
Tuesday. The ministry also warned the Red Cross against “abusing” its mandate.
Russian FM Hosts Fresh Armenian-Azeri Talks
July 26, 2023
Russia - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov meets his Armenian and 
Azerbaijani counterparts in Moscow, July 25, 2023.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov signaled lingering major obstacles to an 
Armenian-Azerbaijani peace deal late on Tuesday after hosting fresh talks 
between his Armenian and Azerbaijani counterparts in Moscow.
Lavrov described the trilateral talks as “useful” but reported no concrete 
agreements reached by the three ministers.
He said he stressed the need to end a grave humanitarian crisis in 
Nagorno-Karabakh resulting from Azerbaijan’s blockade of the Lachin corridor 
supposedly controlled by Russian peacekeepers. But he gave no indications that 
Baku agreed to unblock Armenia’s vital supplies of food, medicine, energy and 
other essential items to Karabakh.
In his opening remarks at the talks, Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan 
said the “illegal” blockade is “complicating the negotiation process.” Speaking 
at a separate meeting with Lavrov held earlier in the day, Mirzoyan expressed 
hope that “some solutions” to the crisis will be found during their discussion 
with Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov.
A peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan was also high on the agenda of the 
trilateral meeting.
“The path is not easy,” Lavrov said, commenting on prospects for its signing. 
“There are quite a few complex and important issues to be resolved.
“The most sensitive of them was and remains the problem of guaranteeing the 
rights and security of the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh in the context of 
ensuring the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan in full accordance with the 
1991 Declaration signed by the leaders of the former Soviet republics in Almaty. 
Its validity is confirmed today by both the Azerbaijani and Armenian leadership.”
Russia - Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov speaks after hosting talks between his 
Armenian and Azerbaijani counterparts, Moscow, July 25, 2023.
The Armenian government, Lavrov went on, “understands the need to convince the 
Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh to meet as soon as possible with Azerbaijani 
representatives” and ascertain their “rights” in accordance with international 
conventions designed to protect ethnic minorities.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian has pledged to recognize Azerbaijani 
sovereignty over Karabakh during talks with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev 
mediated by the European Union. In a clear jibe at Yerevan, the Russian Foreign 
Ministry said earlier this month that Pashinian’s move “radically” changed 
negotiation process.
Lavrov indicated that Armenia and Azerbaijan are much closer to working out 
modalities of planned transport links between the two South Caucasus nations. 
But he did not say when such an agreement could be finalized by a 
Russian-Armenian-Azerbaijani task force dealing with the matter.
Mirzoyan and Bayramov held two rounds of intensive U.S.-mediated negotiations 
outside Washington in May and June. Meanwhile, the EU’s top official, Charles 
Michel, hosted a series of fresh meetings between Aliyev and Pashinian in 
Brussels. Russia claims that the main aim of the Western powers if to drive it 
out of the South Caucasus.
Lavrov said on Tuesday that Moscow “understands” the conflicting sides’ 
“interest” in not only Russian but also Western mediation efforts.
“But there should be no attempts to artificially impose certain agreements not 
in the interests of the Armenian and Azerbaijani peoples but for the sake of 
nice headlines in the media and geopolitical and domestic political 
considerations,” he said.
Reposted on ANN/Armenian News with permission from RFE/RL
Copyright (c) 2023 Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, Inc.
1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

FM: Armenia ready to recognize Azerbaijan’s 86,600 sq. km, which includes Nagorno-Karabakh

Hunanian Jack
Panorama
Armenia –

Armenia’s Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan participated in the OSCE Special Permanent Council meeting which was convened at the request of Armenia in Vienna on Thursday.

Before the session, he had a brief meeting with Chairperson of the OSCE Permanent Council Igor Djundev, the Foreign Ministry reported.

Ararat Mirzoyan delivered remarks at the PC meeting which are provided below.

“I would like to now turn to the political and security dimension and would like to reiterate that the Armenian side is committed to continuing its efforts for normalization of relations and opening a new era of peace in our region.

And taking this opportunity, I would like to highlight the importance of the negotiations mediated and facilitated by our partners. We appreciate their efforts and dedication to the peace agenda and a better future for our region.

We are convinced that durable peace in the region is possible and it’s possible if the sides show utmost willingness to address the root causes of the conflict. In this regard, the issue of rights and security of the Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh is key.

As stated recently by the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia, we are ready to recognize Azerbaijan’s 86,600 square kilometres, which includes Nagorno-Karabakh, however with the understanding that the issue of the rights and security of the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh must be discussed within a framework of an international mechanism, through Stepanakert-Baku dialogue. The respect for the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan should not and could not be anyhow misinterpreted and used as a license for ethnic cleansings in Nagorno-Karabakh.

For understandable reasons, I cannot go into much detail regarding the ongoing discussions and would like to just reaffirm our readiness to engage in good faith in finding solutions to extremely complex and sensitive issues and situations.

One of the most important issues in these negotiations relates to the mutual recognition of the existing interstate borders. According to the Almaty Declaration of 1991, the administrative borders of the former Soviet Republics of Armenia and Azerbaijan were recognized as interstate borders.

Armenia advocates having a clear borderline to avoid any future territorial claims and exclude the possibility of use of force for materializing those claims. And in order to avoid any further ambiguity, we propose to recognise as the basis for the delimitation of the state border the most recent existing maps.

To our deep regret, it seems that leaving much ambiguity in this regard is exactly what Azerbaijani leadership has in mind and strives for.

Furthermore, the establishment of peace and security also requires the implementation of certain confidence-building measures. With this in mind, we have proposed to create a demilitarized zone on the borderline between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Our suggestion is to relocate the forces to the borderline defined in the 1975 USSR General Staff maps and start discussions on modalities of the mentioned demilitarized zone or the distancing of forces.

Unfortunately, the Azerbaijani side is still hesitant to engage in these discussions, and the proposal of the Armenian side on mechanisms which was provided to Azerbaijan in written form more than a year ago has not been even considered.

Another issue of the negotiations agenda is related to unblocking of regional transport and economic links. Being a landlocked country and having closed borders with two out of four of our neighbors, Armenia is very much interested in pursuing this agenda, with the clear understanding that all communication links shall operate based on the sovereignty and national jurisdiction of the countries and according to the principles of equality and reciprocity. The progress achieved in the last three years on this issue gives us some optimism to pursue our vision on, as we call it, Armenian Crossroad.

At the same time, we see that in parallel with conducting negotiations on normalization of relations with Armenia, Azerbaijan consistently engages in actions on the ground that lead to worsening of the situation in and around Nagorno-Karabakh. In his speech of May 28 President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev himself publicly confessed his real intentions and reluctance to properly address the issue of guarantees of rights and security of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh.

I would just refer to some messages from his speech:

“The border checkpoint established on the border on April 23 should be a lesson for Armenians living in the Karabakh region today.”

“We are about to take the last step in our plans, and that step will be taken – I have no doubt about that. I am telling them again from here, from the land of Lachin which they had been exploiting for many years and were engaged in illegal settlement, that their book is closed.”

“My representative went and held the first meeting with them, and then we invited them to Baku to talk. They refused to do that. After that, we invited them to Baku for the second time, i.e. representatives of the Armenian minority living in Karabakh. They refused that too. There will be no third invitation. Either they will bend their necks and come themselves or things will develop differently now.”

These statements, along with the failure by Azerbaijan, under various false arguments, to implement the legally binding decision of the ICJ and violation of its commitments under the November 9, 2020 Trilateral Statement, are revealing and clearly illustrate the real mindset of the Azerbaijani leadership and their stance regarding the issues related to and resulting from the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The statements and actions of Azerbaijan equally reveal the lack of adherence to the international law and calls of the international community.

Mr. Chairperson,

Now I would like to turn to the issue of Armenian prisoners of war and other captives that are still kept by Azerbaijan in captivity three years after the 44-day war.

Azerbaijan refuses to return all the Armenian POWs and civilian captives. According to the data confirmed by Azerbaijan, 33 people, including three civilians, are still kept hostage in Baku. Moreover, on 26 May 2023, after the meetings in Brussels and Moscow, two more servicemen of the Armed Forces of Armenia, who were delivering provisions and water to combat outposts, were abducted by the armed unit of Azerbaijan, which illegally crossed the state border of Armenia. Օn July 7, they were sentenced to 11.5 years of imprisonment.

This is yet another violation by Azerbaijan of the international humanitarian law and Trilateral statement from November 9, 2020.”


Political solution must be found to guarantee rights, security of Nagorno Karabakh people – French Ambassador

Hunanian Jack

 11:28,

YEREVAN, JULY 19, ARMENPRESS. French Ambassador to Armenia Anne Louyot has called for a political solution to end the violations of the 9 November 2020 trilateral statement and guarantee the rights and security of the residents of Nagorno Karabakh, while France will continue to do what’s possible to ensure progress, in coordination with the EU and the United States.

Ambassador Louyot, who is completing her diplomatic mission in Armenia in a few days, told ARMENPRESS in an interview that she will never forget Armenia, whose people impressed her with their resilience and ability to plan the future despite the difficult situation resulting from the 2020 war.

ARMENPRESS: Mrs. Ambassador, what do you consider to be your most significant work and achievement in Armenia during these two years in terms of strengthening and developing the Armenian-French relations?

Ambassador Louyot: As you know, France is fully committed to the peace process, and I have actively supported our special envoy to the South Caucasus, Brice Roquefeuil’s work, which he carried out at the instructions of President Macron and Minister of Foreign Affairs Catherine Colonna, who visited Armenia in April this year. There’s been significant progress in our bilateral relations in the past two years, thanks to the commitment of the two governments. I am especially glad that we opened the defense mission in the embassy, aimed at deepening defense cooperation. In the economy, the roadmap signed by ministers Mirzoyan and Lemoyne in December 2021 allowed the French side to assume additional commitments, especially through supporting exports and imports in Armenia, particularly in the sector of solar energy. The French Development Agency has allocated a major state policy loan in the size of € 100 million and opened a representation in Yerevan, under the roof of the embassy, which allows diversifying and intensifying its activities in the areas of irrigation, energy, agriculture and elsewhere.

Together with the EU, we supported the strengthening of the rule of law through cooperation with the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Ministry of Justice.

There is significant progress in our cooperation in culture and education as well. The French Institute of Armenia, officially launched in 2022, is already preparing a major cultural program and will open its doors for all audiences for French language courses in the beginning of the academic year.  The ambitious France-Armenia Heritage program, which the embassy is carrying out jointly with the National Heritage Institute and the Louvre Museum, has enabled to train Armenian heritage experts and launch museum studies and restoration projects with the Erebuni Museum and the Mets Anapat of Tatev (Great Hermitage of Tatev).  As a result of intensive contacts with the Armenian education ministry, we will launch an ambitious project in the beginning of the academic year aimed at strengthening the  French language education in Armenia. I welcome the involvement of new provinces in the de-centralized cooperation, particularly Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes with Syunik and Hauts-de-France with Vayots Dzor, in addition to the thirty active partnerships which have allowed to develop effective partnerships in vocational education, for example with CEPFA. After all, I have to mention the embassy’s support to Armenia’s civil society as well.

ARMENPRESS: What legacy are you leaving behind for the new ambassador, what are some of the unfinished initiatives that your successor must complete?

Ambassador Louyot: New ambassadors always continue their predecessor’s work, based on the instructions by their ministry, but they also bring their own ideas and energy.  I am sure that my successor Olivier Decottignies will continue the projects we started and will launch new ones.

In addition to cooperation areas that need to be strengthened, I would mention the economy, where we need additional efforts from both sides in order to involve many French enterprises who want to start activities in Armenia. Huge work has been done, particularly thanks to the EU-Armenia Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA) to improve Armenia’s business environment, which is commendable. I’ve maintained regular contact with French companies that are working here, whose example should encourage other enterprises to benefit from the opportunities that Armenia’s healthy economic environment has to offer. In this sense, targeted and sectoral promotion actions could be useful.

The French University of Armenia must also be strengthened, whose significant commitment jointly with the universities of Lyon and Toulouse gives the chance to provide high quality education to 2000 Armenian students. I hope that the project to relocate the university will be successful with support of the two governments. And finally, the EU programs aimed at Armenia’s development can serve to encourage the activities of French organizations in Armenia based on clear, jointly approved strategies. A stronger Armenia is a developed Armenia.

ARMENPRESS: Mrs. Ambassador, you have visited border regions, who have visited the families affected by the Azerbaijani shelling in Syunik, you’ve personally witnessed the consequences of Azerbaijan’s aggression. What is your assessment about Azerbaijan’s conduct, and what kind of a response should the international community give, and are you satisfied with the reaction thus far?

Ambassador Louyot:  I have indeed visited the villages affected by Azerbaijan’s attacks in September 2022, in Gegharkunik, Vayots Dzor and Syunik I was able to witness the sufferings of the peaceful population, whom I wanted to express my solidarity with.  France supports the consistent efforts of the EU and the United States in this direction. The EU civilian mission, launched on 23 January, 2023, is contributing to the peace process in border regions through monitoring works. The result of this monitoring contributes to the EU’s mediation efforts, but we must further strengthen efforts in order for the territorial sovereignty and human rights to be respected.

The close and permanent consultations between our two governments and President Macron and Prime Minister Pashinyan reflects our commitment and desire to expand the international community’s support for a fair and lasting peace. We are working in this direction.

 

ARMENPRESS: Azerbaijan has completely blocked the Lachin Corridor and the Armenians of Artsakh are facing a humanitarian crisis for a long time now. Although the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairmanship is factually not functioning today, given the fact that France is a co-chair of this structure, what role could it have for resolving the issue? How do you personally envision the solution to the issue?

Ambassador Louyot: We’ve condemned the blockade of Lachin Corridor, which is seriously harming the population of Nagorno Karabakh, since December, and we have called for the implementation of the International Court of Justice ruling on restoring traffic along the corridor. We welcome the ICRC efforts aimed at mitigating the consequences of the humanitarian crisis resulting from the blockade, but a political solution must be found to end the violations of the 9 November 2020 statement and to guarantee the rights and security of the residents of Nagorno Karabakh. The global instability resulting from the aggression unleashed by Russia against Ukraine doesn’t ease the work, but we continue to be mobilized.  That’s why France, a permanent member of the UN Security Council, initiated UNSC sessions in September and December of 2022 on Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh. France, in coordination with the EU and US, will continue to do what’s possible to ensure progress in the negotiations process.

ARMENPRESS: Mrs. Ambassador, summing up your diplomatic mission in Armenia, what has impressed you the most in Armenia during your tenure?

Ambassador Louyot: Being assigned to Armenia has special importance for a French diplomat, due to the ancient ties uniting our two peoples, which, as Anatole France said, belong to the same family. The pantheonization of Missak and Melinee Manouchian, ethnic Armenians who were French by conviction, symbolizes the closeness of our two nations. I was especially impressed by the resilience of the Armenian people, ability to make future plans despite the difficult situation resulting from the 2020 war. I highly appreciate the unique hospitality of Armenians, their ties to their history and wonderful heritage, as well as openness for other cultures and faiths. The Armenian people can be a link even between countries which sometimes have contradicting interests. This is an important ability, which I hope it will remain committed to.

ARMENPRESS: And finally, Mrs. Ambassador, you are completing your diplomatic mission in Armenia sooner than planned, and France has already named a new ambassador. The embassy had explained that your early departure has to do with personal reasons, but since there are various rumors on this issue claiming that you have been recalled, please clarify the reason of your early departure and whether this has been exclusively your personal decision.

Ambassador Louyot: In the atmosphere of instability caused by the aggression unleashed by Russia in Ukraine, disinformation is one of the weapons which is widely used against democratic countries. France’s commitment in Armenia is probably causing discontent, which can explain the generated fake news about our activities, my persona, and representatives of French enterprises in Armenia. The rumors about me are simply defamation, which is criminally liable in conditions of the rule of law. Therefore I have filed a complaint, expecting that justice will be served and a verdict will be issued. I am sad that I have to leave Armenia due to personal and family reasons after very rich and full two years. I am leaving many friends here and I am departing with the best memories. Be sure, I will never forget your country.

Interview by Anna Grigoryan

Photos by Mkhitar Khachatryan




Armenpress: Armenia, United States military top brass meet in Washington D.C.

Hunanian Jack

 09:54,

YEREVAN, JULY 20, ARMENPRESS. The Chief of the General Staff of the Armenian Armed Forces, First Deputy Minister of Defense, Lieutenant General Edward Asryan has held a brief meeting with the United States military’s Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley, the Ministry of Defense said in a statement on Thursday.

The meeting took place within the framework of the conference in Washington D.C. marking the 30th anniversary of the U.S. National Guard’s State Partnership Program.

The importance of the State Partnership Program with Kansas was emphasized during the meeting, the defense ministry said in a readout.